Dispensing device



May 4, 1965 L. HARTVIG-JOHANSEN DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 18, 1961.

y 4, 1955 L. HARTVIG-JOHANSEN 3,181,738

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent 3,181,738 DISPENSING DEVICE Leif Hartvig-Johansen, Elisenbergvein35A, Oslo 2, Norway Filed Oct. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 145,869 Claimspriority, application Norway, Nov. 4, 1960, 137,880; July 5, 1961,140,798 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-156) This invention relates to dispensingdevices of the type which comprises a container for powdered or similarmaterial, which container can be connected with an underlying dispensingdevice containing a dispensing or feed plunger with an operation arm orthe like, whereby suitable portions of the material in the container canbe pushed out through a feed aperture.

Dispensing devices are known, wherein for instance, soap powder ischarged into a container, the lower part of which is connected to asuitable dispensing device. This dispensing device can for instance beof plunger type and such that each plunger stroke feeds out a certainsuitable portion of the soap powder.

The purpose of the invention is to provide such a dispensing devicewhich is very simplified in its construction and use. This is obtainedby arranging a dispensing mechanism known per se, forming a partof ahousing which is adapted to tightly enclose one end of a substantiallyparallellepiped machine-filled standard carton or the like, one cornerof which is provided with weakening lines or the like, so that thecorner may be removed before the carton is mounted in the housing.

In the use of a dispensing device according to the invention it is notnecessary to transfer the powder material from the carton to a separatecontainer which is a part of the apparatus, but the carton itselfconstitutes the container. Thereby the work necessary in transferringthe powder to a separate container is eliminated, at the same time asthe general inconvenience of dust and so forth is avoided. The cartonaccording to the invention is preferably devised with the one endclosure flap made very short. and connected to the side wall of thecarton by a folding, wherein a weakening line is contained so that thewhole of this flap can be removed as the corner is torn open by aid ofthe other weakening lines. The material in the carton will thus run downinto the dispensing mechanism without being stopped by remaining flaps.

A special housing known per se can be used with advantage for securingthe carton to for instance a wall. This housing is then preferablyprovided with a window for reading the instructions on the standardcarton. Further the housing can with advantage be lockable.

The above-mentioned as well as further characterizing features of theinvention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription of some embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective exploded view the lower part of a standardcarton with the associated dispensing mechanism according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a somewhat modified version of the embodiment shown in FIG.1, the modification being seen in cross-section;

FIG. 3 shows a carton according to the invention as seen from thesecuring end with side flaps swung out so that the form of the end flapsas well as the weakening lines are seen;

FIG. 4 shows the tearing-off corner of a carton according to theinvention;

FIG. 5 shows in top plan view the foremost part of the dispensingplunger according to the modification shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view on a smaller scale of a housing wherein thedispensing device is arranged according to the invention; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show the housing open and ready'to receive acarton and the housing closed.

The arrangement according to FIG. 1 consists of a parallelepiped carton1 or the like containing for instance soap powder. Dispensing means of atype known per se, having a plunger 3, which moves in a shorttray-shaped casing 2, is arranged to be secured to the lower part of thecarton 1, the casing 2 tightly surrounding it with the bottom of thecarton 1 in contact with the top surface of the plunger 3. Plunger 3 canbe moved by a handle 4, whereby the front edge 23 of the plunger pushesthe powder which has run down from the carton 1 out through thedispensing aperture 5.

The carton 1 is so devised that a corner thereof can be removed beforeit is placed in the casing 2. In the example shown, the corner is madewith a curved weakening line 7 and transverse lines 8, 8 in the sideclosure flaps 12, 13 at the bottom. The end closure flap 11 is of usuallength, whereas the end closure flap 9 which lies under the tearing-offpart-s outside the weakening lines 8, 8' is very short, preferably ofthe same length as said tearing-off parts. This short flap 9 isconnected to the side of the carton with a folding, containing aweakening line 10.

The device of the tearing-off corner for the finished carton is seen inperspective view in FIG. 4. By a pressing for instance of the thumbagainst the curved part under the line 7, this part may be pressed inand when thereafter torn outwards, the end flap 9 as well as the partsoutside the lines 8, 8' will'follow. Thus, the whole corner can beremoved Without leaving any parts that might obstruct the path of thepowder from the carton 1 to the space in front of the pushing edge 23 ofthe plunger 3.

When thus the dispensing device by aid of the casing 2 is fastened tothe end of the carton 1 after the corner has been removed as described,a working dispensing device is obtained. If the casing 2 is dimensioned.for tight enclosure of the end part of the carton 1 it is not necessaryto have special means to secure these two parts together. Such means mayof course be embodied in the device if it should'be convenient.

The device according to FIGS. 2 and 5 differs from the one shown in FIG.1 only by the arrangement of the feed plunger 3' with a transversemember 15 attached to the plunger 3 by the side members 16, so that anaperture 22 is formed, constituting the space down into which the powderfrom the carton can run. The transverse member 15 will in inactiveposition of the device cover the opening 5 so that the powder cannot runout. When the handle 4 is pressed in, the plunger 3' will move towardsthe opening 5, and the amount of powder in the space 22 will bedischarged. Where the dispensing device is used, for instance inwash-rooms, toilets and so forth,

it is advisable to put a shield 17 or the like over the dispensingaperture, so that wet hands will not touch the plunger or the dispensingdevice, which might spoil the functioning of the device, as moisturecould result in the forming of lumps etc. in the powder.

The plunger 3' is spring-loaded at the lower surface 2 of the housing bya pressure spring 6, acting on the bent branch 4' of the operationhandle 4. By every stroke of the plunger 3' towards the left in FIG. 2 aportion of the powder 14 corresponding to the space 22 of the plunger 3is discharged. 7

For use where vibration is encountered, for instance in railway wagons,the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 is preferable, since the vibrationwill not cause the powder to spill through the opening 5 when the deviceis inoperative. For home use or the like the device according to FIG. 1is very serviceable. The powder under ordinary circumstances will notrun out through dispensery aperture 5, since the resistance to flow ofthe powder exceeds the pressure exerted by the powder in a full carton.Therefore, it is understood that it is necessary to push the materialout with the plunger.

The described dispensing device of FIG. 1, for example, can withadvantage be arranged in connection with a surrounding housing 18 havingan aperture 5' in registry with opening 5 of the casing for pernrittingthe passage of material therethrough under the action of plunger 3. Thearrangement preferably includes a plate 26 fastened to the wall, thehousing 18 having trunnions 19 rotatably fastened to plate 26 such thatthe housing is pivotally movable with respect to the plate 26 between aclosed and an open position. Locking means 20 is provided to lock thehousing in the closed position. The housing 18 preferably has a window21, through which instructions on the carton can be read.

In FIG. 7, the housing is shown in perspective view in open position forthe mounting of a carton 1. The corner 25 of the carton is first removedand the carton is held with the opening up and then pushed into place inthe downturned housing 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, thedespensing device is secured in the housing 18. The carton 1 is insertedalong the path of arrow P into engagement with the plunger 3 and intothe edge of the tray-shaped casing 2 whereupon the housing 18 is pivotedaround the axis of the trunnions 19 in the direction indicated by thearrow P FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal central section through the deviceaccording to FIG. 7 with the housing 18 in a turnedup or closedposition. Therein can be seen plate 26 which by screw-holes 27 andscrews 28 is secured for instance to a wall 29. The upper part of theplate 26 is provided with a protrusion 31 provided with an aperture 32,adapted for cooperating with a cross bar 33 which is supported inhousing 18 and, which can be pivoted by a key 34. The housing 18 will ina locked position be secured to the plate 26 so that the carton 1 cannotbe removed by unauthorized persons.-

In FIGS. 1-4, the device is shown based on one corner being removed bythe aid of weakening lines for provision of a necessary feed outaperture for the carton 1. In

1G. 3 there are shown weakening lines 24 which may be arranged in themiddle part of the carton, if desired. Usually the end fiap does notextend as far as weakening lines 24 and to break through the carton itwill be necessary only to break through the side flaps 12, 13.

For dispensing devices according to the invention there may further,according to the invention, be arranged means by the aid of which onecan see when a soap powder carton is nearly empty. For this purpose thehousing, in which the carton is placed, may be provided with a verticalslit 40 which is relatively narrow, and each powder carton is providedwith a window 41 in registry with the slitlike opening. The window 41 inthe carton is usually somewhat broader than the slit 40 in the housing.This slit must be so narrow that one cannot cut the transparent materialthat covers the window of the carton with a fingernail and thus tear it,so that the soap powder runs out.

Experience has proved that the slit-like aperture which constitutes thewindow in the housing should not be more than 5 mm. broad, andpreferably not more than 3 mm. broad. With regard to the window in thecarton there is no limit.

The apparatus may be modified so that the housing itself directly servesas a container for the soap powder. In this case the slit in the wall ofthe housing must of course be covered by a transparent material.

With such a device, one is always aware of when the soap powder in thecontainer is getting low, so that one in time will be aware that thespent carton must be replaced by a new one. The height of the slit orthe win- A dow for controlling the level of the soap powder can withadvantage cover a fourth or a third of the height of the carton,measured from the bottom.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiments shown in the drawings and here described, but can bemodified in several ways within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing device for powder material comprising a housing adaptedto accommodate a self-contained carton containing powder material andhaving an opening through which said material is dispensable, dispensingmeans supported in said housing and in turn directly supporting saidcarton for dispensing quantities of material from the carton which iswithin the housing, said housing and dispensing means therewith beingpivotally movable between first and second positions, support meanspivotally supporting said housing and dispensing means for saidmovement, said housing in the first position being downwardly tilted andpermitting insertion and removal of a carton, said housing in the secondposition being vertically disposed and closed, said carton beinginsertable with the opening therein facing upwardly into the housingwith the latter in the ifirst position thereof, said opening of thecarton facing downwardly with the housing in the second positionthereof, said dispensing means comprising a plunger and a tray-shapedcasing supported within said housing, said dispensing means beingdisposed in said housing such that in the second position of thehousing, said carton rests on the dispensing means with the opening insaid carton facing downwardly, said plunger being slidably supported insaid casing and including a portion projecting beyond said housing, saidplunger being slidable in said casing between first and second positionsby engagement of said projecting portion and a moving of the same fordispensing a quantity of material, said housing being provided with anaperture operatively disposed with respect to the plunger such that aquantity of material is dispensed from said dispensing means and thenthrough said aperture as said plunger moves between said first andsecond positions.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means comprisesa flat plate adapted for being fixedly secured to a support, saidhousing being pivotally secured to said flat plate.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is provided witha slit which is in registry with a window provided in the carton torender visible the level of the powder in the carton.

4. A dispensing device for powder material comprising a housing adaptedto accommodate a self-contained carton containing powder material andhaving an opening through which said material is dispensible, a fiatplate adapted for being mounted vertically in a fixed position, saidhousing being a hollow element pivotally connected to said flat platefor movement between a downwardly pivoted position in which the interiorof the hollow element is exposed and an upwardly pivoted position inwhich the housing is vertical and is closed; dispensing means includinga trayshaped casing supported in said housing and a plunger slidablysupported in said casing, said dispensing means being disposed in saidhousing to support the carton therein with the latter resting directlyon said plunger and with the opening in the carton facing downwardlyinto the casing when the housing is in vertical position, the cartonprojecting beyond said casing and being accommodated within saidhousing, spring means associated with said plunger to urge the latter toan initial position whereat the opening of the carton is exposed andpowder material is deposited into said casing, said casing having anoutlet for the dischar e of material by displacement of the plunger, adispensing aperture being provided in said housing in registry with saidoutlet of the casing and through which material in said casing isdispensed as said plunger is moved in said casing against the action ofthe spring means.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plunger includes aprojecting portion including branches arranged in U-shaped manner, saidspring means being a spring in contact with one of said branches.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plunger has a fiatsurface, the carton having an edge in which said opening is provided,said edge resting on the flat surface of the plunger.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the carton is provided withscore lines for forming said opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 402, 3 74 4/ 89Williams 221-264 5 3 0,5 61 1 2/ 94 Thissell 221-264 702,083 6/ 02Wormwood et a1 222183 X 1,270,510 6/ 18 Goodman 222-461 X 6 iMc'Keig222361 X Guest 222'361 Du Grenier '221-264 Bobrick 2122185 X Moore222181 Weiss 229-17 Sunderhauf 22917 Altorfer 2'22361 Anderson a 222181Germano 222-361' FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

Examiners.

4. A DISPENSING DEVICED FOR POWDER MATERIAL COMPRISING A HOUSING ADAPTEDTO ACCOMMODATE A SELF-CONTAINED CARTON CONTAINING POWDER MATERIAL ANDHAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID MATERIAL IS DISPENSIBLE, A FLATPLATE ADAPTED FOR BEING MOUNTED VERTICALLY IN A FIXED POSITION, SAIDHOUSING BEING A HOLLOW ELEMENT PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FLAT PLATEFOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A DOWNWARDLY PIVOTED POSITION IN WHICH THE INTERIOROF THE HOLLOW ELEMENT IS EXPOSED AND AN UPWARDLY PIVOTED POSITION INWHICH THE HOUSING IS VERTICAL AND IS CLOSED; DISPENSING MEANS INCLUDINGA TRAY SHAPED CASING SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING AND A PLUNGER SLIDABLYSUPPORTED IN SAID CASING, SAID DISPENSING MEANS BEING DISPOSED IN SAIDHOUSING TO SUPPORT THE CARTON THEREIN WITH THE LATTER RESTING DIRECTLYON SAID PLUNGER AND WITH THE OPENING IN THE CARTON FACING DOWNWARDLYINTO THE